(no subject)

[rynne]

So, I've distilled most of my issues down to three specific things I would have changed, none of which would have created any real differences in the plot.

1. The conversation in Bad Wolf Bay Redux. I would have had both Doctors emphasize that Brown couldn't give Rose what she deserved, couldn't give her all of him, and Blue could. I would have downplayed that "he's like I was when I first met you and you can heal him" bit, and made Blue seem more like a gift rather than a duty. I would have had both Doctors explain she should stay with Blue, and then let her at least give some sign of acceptance (which I don't think that kiss really was). Just, you know, allow me the illusion that Rose is making a choice, rather than the Doctor(s) making it for her.

2. Donna. If RTD was determined to make her lose her memories, I could deal with that. I wouldn't be happy with it, since Donna became such a fantastic person, but she still can. The Doctor didn't take that potential away from her. But what I would have done is have the Doctor remind her that Sylvia and Wilf wouldn't want her to die, and that she could still be fantastic, even without memories of what they did together. And she could have agreed. That agreement is the key thing, for me. I want the overtones of mental rape to be gone, thanks.

3. The Doctor doesn't end up completely alone in the TARDIS. Instead, he calls Sarah Jane and wants to catch up with what she's been doing, and meet Luke. Or he calls Jack and wants to catch up with him, Mickey, and Martha without the whole universal danger thing getting in the way, and meet Gwen and Ianto properly. Some sort of indication that he took Sarah Jane's words about his family to heart, that he recognizes that he still has people who love him and who he can call on.

Those are the three big things. There are other things I would have liked to have seen--a real conversation between Rose and Jack, some indication about how much Rose knows (especially in regards to being Bad Wolf), more Jackie, more interaction between Rose and Blue!Ten. But it's those three things that would have made that ending so much more palatable for me, and they wouldn't even have involved much real change. Gah.

I think I'll go more in-depth on Bad Wolf Bay Redux later, since I have a lot of complicated thoughts on that.

Comments

[magic-at-mungos.livejournal.com]

The whole Donna thing broke my heart. It was like he didn't even allow her to live a life as the 'new' Donna. The Donna that felt she was clever and sharp and saved the world. Someone whop could think laterally and knew what to do because she was a temp.

So does this mean that everyone else's memories have gone of things such as her wedding?

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Well, he explained why he couldn't let Donna have all her memories, even without the metacrisis--those memories would trigger the metacrisis, immediately killing her. I'm just angry that Donna's story ended like this, and that the Doctor was so high-handed in ending it.

I doubt everyone else's memories are gone, so I be that's something Sylvia and Wilf will have to watch out for.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Agreed on all of these, but 3 is a big one for me, because all it needed was a few extra words. Maybe instead of Sarah Jane having a line about the "biggest family in the world" and then WALKING AWAY, she could have added something like "We may not have the same life you do, but you know where to find us, and we're always here for you" before leaving. Sigh.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

I know! Though I really think he needed to be the one to reach out. Sarah Jane's calling all those people his family carries an implicit "we're here for you", but that doesn't really do much good if he doesn't take advantage of it.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. I like to think that if they'd let the cameras roll for TEN MORE SECONDS at the end of the episode, they would've shown Ten shaking off his Doom Face, reaching for Martha's cell phone, and calling someone up.

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

Just, you know, allow me the illusion that Rose is making a choice, rather than the Doctor(s) making it for her.

Yeah. I still wouldn't have liked it, but this would've made it a lot easier for me to swallow. Same thing with #2; wouldn't have liked it, but I'd have been easier with it if Donna had actually agreed to it.

Some sort of indication that he took Sarah Jane's words about his family to heart, that he recognizes that he still has people who love him and who he can call on.

Yes. Because I don't think he did. I think he smiled and hugged her and let her think he agreed with her. However, as he was hugging her, his expression changed, and I just think he's probably not intending to contact any of the ones still in this universe (who remember him) ever again. So that he can't taint them anymore (because the idiot actually agrees with Davros).

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Yes. Because I don't think he did. I think he smiled and hugged her and let her think he agreed with her. However, as he was hugging her, his expression changed, and I just think he's probably not intending to contact any of the ones still in this universe (who remember him) ever again. So that he can't taint them anymore (because the idiot actually agrees with Davros).

Exactly. I am so angry with RTD for making him agree with Davros. I will be less angry if he learns over the course of the specials, but given what he said in the Confidential, I don't think that's likely. And I just DO NOT GET THE POINT of constantly increasing the angst, becaue I don't think more angst = better hero. *sigh*

[lotusflower85.livejournal.com]

I agree about Donna - it would have been so much stronger to have her make the choice herself - although it was played as a choice she never would have made, and would let her brian melt or whatever before she gave up travelling in the Tardis - it really just makes the Doctor feel more responsible and depressed about her, really - and taking all the burden on himself - which leaves him alone, right where he was at the end of last season.